Travel

It’s very rare that I say a person must attend an event. However, if you are a fan of Halloween then Halloween Horror Nights is an event you can’t miss. Last week, Danyelle and I travelled to Orlando to experience this event firsthand and boy did we have an amazing time. My love for Halloween is next level and attending this event made me love Halloween even more. Now in its 25th Year, Halloween Horror Nights is sure to put fear in the toughest person. With over 9 Haunted Houses, 5 Scare Zones and 2 Halloween Shows the fun and horror options are endless. Here are my top 3 reasons why you should attend Halloween Horror Nights: Jack the Clown: After a brief hiatus Jack the Clown is back and he is back with a vengeance. No matter how much you love clowns, something about Jack brings fear to my heart. He’s back this year with his own Haunted House and show. Jack plays no games and I definitely don’t want to get caught in an alley alone with him and his sidekicks. Haunted Houses: There are a total of 9 Haunted Houses, to get the full rundown head over to Swa-Rai.com. After getting a chance to experience all of them Insidious is the one house that made me face my fears. If I never go back to this house it wouldn’t be too soon. The Freddy Vs. Jason Haunted House: If you grew up in the 80s and 90s then you know how important Freddy and Jason are to Halloween lovers around the world. This haunted house takes you from the cursed Camp Crystal Lake to the nightmarish 1428 Elm Street, awake or asleep, you’ll find yourself caught in the middle of this epic battle — where the winner’s reward is YOU. The idea of being on Elm Street brings pure joy and fear but the idea of seeing them both battle at the end made the experience all worth it. And if you are a fan of American Werewolf in London you must stop by this Haunted House, the attention to detail is amazing by far one of my favorite designs. The Scare Zones: Last but not least you must make it a point to visit all 5 scare zones. This is where the streets of Universal Studios transform and all kinds of zombies and creatures of the night roam the streets. Keep your eyes open at all times or you may very well become their next victim. There someone waiting for you at every twist and turn. All in all we had an amazing time! This trip was definitely one for the record books, thanks Universal Orlando for the...

As you guys know a few weeks ago Danyelle and I headed to San Francisco for a weekend full of fun and adventure. Since this was our first trip there we wanted to act like the tourist that we were and see and do as much as possible during our 3 day stay. One of the things I was looking forward to was going to Madame Tussauds in San Fran. It had been a while since I visited the Madame Tussauds in New York, so I figured it was time to go back. I must say after all these years Madame Tussauds still has its magic. As soon as we arrived at Madame Tussauds we were greeted by Morgan Freeman and Beyonce. I mean, how else should one be greeted when they come to SF. Oh hey Beyonce…. While I won’t give you a run down of my entire visit to Madame Tussauds because you definitely need to go for yourself, I will share with you some of my favorite moments and wax figures. Growing up I was obsessed with Al Capone and his mob crimes, so it was a pleasure running into him at Alcatraz. Somehow after my visit, I ended up becoming a prisoner… You can clearly see the crimes I committed above. Oh how I loved the entire Rosa Parks scene, they did and amazing job with her! Then I took a few moments to have “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”… Hey Harvey Milk! Don’t know about him, do a little research. Stopped for a quick chat with President Lincoln. Helped Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. give a speech. Tried to have a conversation with President Obama but he wasn’t trying to hear me. Of course the King was in the building but I felt like he was trying to get too romantic with me. My doll Marilyn all glammed up as usual! E.T. was trying to come home with me… It was great to see Gabby Douglas as well. And you guys know I can’t forget my favorite, Tupac!!! These were just a few of my favorite moments! I don’t want to spoil if for you so the next time you are in SF, make sure you pay Madame Tussauds a visit. ...

A few months ago, we told you guys about our trip to Arizona and all of the fun things we got into. This month, I’m back to talk you about Scottsdale Resort & Conference Center which is rebranding itself to the Scottsdale Resort next month. You can read my full review on Swa-Rai.com but on this post, I want to talk about Amansala Spa located on the resort. Everyone knows that Danyelle and I love a good spa! After all of that running around in Arizona, we were definitely in need of some relaxation. Our stay on the resort had been amazing but our visit to Amansala spa made it even better. We had afternoon appointments so after grabbing something to eat we headed to the spa. The Scottsdale Resort is pretty big so the spa was located outside of the hotel near the workout room. We arrived for our appointment where the host was waiting for us to arrive. She showed us to the locker room and left us to prepare for our treatments. After switching into our robes, we went to the waiting area and waited to be serviced. After a few short minutes we were escorted to our rooms, where we got undressed and prepared to be pampered. I wanted to do something different so I decided to get the AMANSALA SONORAN BODY REJUVENATION. This service included their signature body treatment with stimulating exfoliation, a corrective hand treatment, a detoxifying mud wrap, a full body replenishing hydration and a relaxing hand & foot massage. When you talk about heaven, I was on cloud nine. It was my first time getting a mud wrap and definitely won’t be my last. My maseusse was friendly and professional and made the entire process so easy for me. I loved how clean the spa is because that is something that is very important to me. I walked out of Amasala feeling like a new and improved woman. It’s definitely a spa I recommend going to at least once, especially if you are in or will be in Arizona area anytime soon. I’m sure you will agree, you can thank me later! After our service was over we were lead back to the relaxation room to chill and relax some more. The Scottsdale Resort is currently undergoing construction but I know they will be coming back bigger and better than ever on September 8, so make sure you book those...

Over the course of the last eight months, I have visited The Big Apple three times with no signs of stopping. During each visit, I’ve stayed near Times Square in order to soak in the sights and sounds and wonderfulness of it all. Of course I am showing my tourist colors since Times Square isn’t a place city dwellers and locals like to inhabit. But, I don’t mind looking a little green. I can never pass up the chance to spend some time in one of the busiest places on earth, while taking in all that it has to offer. I am not ashamed to say that I absolutely love Times Square. The lights, energy, and massive crowds always have me coming back for more. My travel style has certainly evolved over time, and when I visit New York City, I often opt for pieces that are comfy. Rompers, skirts, leotards, and simple dresses are usually my wardrobe of choice. And when hitting Times Square, I want to look fabulous but also need to be functional too. So I am sharing a bit of my Times Square style in order to get you thinking of simple yet appealing pieces that are perfect to walk in, and are photo shoot fresh just in case you plan on taking a selfie or three. Dress for Success. Dresses are perfect for travel and are easy to roll and pack. And because it’s one piece, it doesn’t require too much in your luggage, so that is a win/win. For a recent trek to Times Square, I wore a cute black and white pattern number that made me feel cute, but also comfortable. I added some gladiator flats to complete the look and presto—I was able to walk around Times Square looking every bit of the fashionista. Maxi’s Baby. I blogged about maxis being a #1 travel style option before, so it comes as no secret that wearing one in Times Square isn’t only smart, but a must! You can dress them up or down, too. In this look, I tied around a plaid shirt just in case it got chilly after the sun went down. And it also added a little “urban-ness” to my overall attire. Color. A little color won’t hurt nobody. And even though there are plenty of lights in Times Square, showing off some color is the way to go. In this look, I paired an electric blue leotard with a simple black skirt. The police officers are sold separately. 🙂 Romper Room. I am a huge fan of rompers. And they make excellent travel wear, too. For my most recent trip to New York, I decided on this black and white romper to do some Times Square people watching in. Rompers can be an awesome travel staple. So if you are hitting Times Square in warmer climate months,...

I’m going to start this post off by saying the Ford Transit Connect Wagon is not your typical vehicle. It’s probably something I wouldn’t have given 2 thoughts about, that is until I got a chance to drive it. Upon it’s arrival, I realized this was a pretty big vehicle, it left me wondering how it would do on the road. I’m a get up and go kind of girl but too my surprise the Transit Connect felt like driving a car. It looks like a minivan but in actuality nothing about this car says minivan, it’s actually the Unminivan. This vehicle is perfect for someone who is a unique driver – one who lives outside the box, values independence, is active, and most certainly adventurous. So lets talk about a few of my favorite features on the Ford Transit Connect Wagon. Space: I love how roomy the 7-passenger Transit Connect is, perfect for those long roadtrips or large families. Storage: The Transit Connect had compartments everywhere making storage simple and easy. Drive: Like I said the Transit Connect drives like a car. The size may be intimidating but trust me it handles well on the road; most of the time, I felt like I was driving a small car. Rearview Camera: Makes maneuvering the Transit Connect Wagon easy! Sync: This system allows you to stay connected with hands-free calling, 911 assist, easy music control and more. Overall, my family had a blast in this van! I didn’t think we would get that attached to the Ford Transit Connect but once it was gone, we really missed it. We are a small family but this car made a huge impact. So if you are in the market for a van or a larger vehicle, I suggest taking a strong look at the Ford Transit Connect. There’s no telling how many adventures you and the family can get into. ...

“Tale that’s old as time…” During our most recent trip to Walt Disney World and The Magic Kingdom, we were finally able to secure dinner reservations at Be Our Guest Restaurant located in Beast’s Castle. Be Our Guest Restaurant is one of the newer sit-down style dining options at Walt Disney World, and is also one of their most popular. It remains one of the hardest places to get reservations for (just behind Cinderella’s Castle), and thanks to Disney Dining Buddy, I was able to secure a table for me and my daughter alongside my best friend and her daughter. Be Our Guest takes you inside the story of Beauty and the Beast, the tale of a would-be handsome Prince who is turned into a beast after being arrogant and cruel to a woman in need who turned out to be an enchantress . He then entraps Belle in this castle, and despite their disdain for one another, they both begin to fall in love. The only way to break the spell is for Beast to find his true love, which he does in Belle, and they live happily ever after. Inside the restaurant, you have three options to on where to dine during dinner. There’s the Ballroom (where we ate) that looks just as it did in the movie complete with opulent chandeliers and draped balconies and snow falling to the ground outside it’s gallery windows. There’s also the West Wing where The Beast often hid away in the movie. It’s dark and mysterious with lightening and thunderclaps, but features the glass jar in which the rose that holds his fate is stored. The Rose Gallery is more of Belle’s style featuring a music box centerpiece where she and The Beast dance atop. Disney’s Imagineers really brought this fairytale to life at Be Our Guest, and nothing has been left to chance. Everything from the music to the sound effects to the rolling carts of French inspired cuisine is just as it was in the film. We had a wonderful experience eating there, and I plan to eating at Be Our Guest once again for lunch when I visit in December. I was able to snag reservations again since I am 100 days out from my actual visit. It is pricey for dinner compared to other dining options at The Magic Kingdom, but well worth it. For dinner, plan to spend about $85 for two people including an appetizer and dessert. Once you are done with your food, you can take photos with The Beast. During lunch, I am told that you get a chance to see Belle and The Beast dance together, just as they did in the movie. For true Disney fans, Be Our Guest is a must-visit. Are you looking for more 4-1-1 on Be Our Guest Restaurant? Visit the Disney Food...